Last Modified: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 4:04 p.m.

But that policy could represent troubling news for the state's film incentive program, which is stuck in a political quagmire in Raleigh even though the tax credit is set to expire at the end of the year.

If that happens, film supporters have warned of a mass exodus of productions – and jobs – from the state, with Wilmington hit especially hard as North Carolina's production epicenter.

McCrory, who visited the StarNews Wednesday during several stops in the Port City, painted himself as a middle man in the film incentive debate trying to find a solution that meets the needs of fiscal conservatives with those who fear any watering down of the program would decimate the state's film industry.

"I'm looking for common ground," the governor said, noting that the debate so far has been between options that offer an "all or nothing" solution.

McCrory said his vision would be some kind of program that promotes long-term capital investment by the film industry with long-term job potential. He floated such a plan in his proposed 2014-15 budget, although the state House and Senate have decided to push their own proposals.

But film supporters have said the governor's plan doesn't work for their industry, and a program like that would just send production work to other states and offer more lucrative – and less stringent – incentive programs.

McCrory also said he didn't see a one-year extension of the current program – an option promoted by state Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, and Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo – as a viable solution because there's currently no money earmarked for it.

"That's a problem because I'd have to take it from somewhere else," he said. "There's a cause-and-effect on any decision we make."

Still, the governor said he was "optimistic" any budget he signs would include film incentives. But, McCrory cautioned, he didn't think it would look like the current tax credit program.

Continuing his focus on long-term solutions, McCrory on Wednesday also touted the changes initiated by his administration on transportation funding and tax and Medicaid reform.

He reiterated his support for the recent changes at the N.C. Ports, even if he had to "step on some toes" to get them done. That includes selecting Paul Cozza as the new executive director and Michael Lee as chair of the N.C. State Ports Authority Board of Directors.

McCrory said the moves have allowed the ports authority, which operates the deepwater ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, to focus its efforts on developing niche markets, like wood pellets.

"We've got to own up that we're not going to compete with the Savannahs, Charlestons and Norfolks of the world," he said, referring to neighboring – and much larger – Southeastern ports.

On the state's economic recruitment efforts, the governor said impending changes at the N.C. Department of Commerce to move toward a public-private partnership would help simplify recruitment efforts.

But alluding to concerns about a lack of transparency, McCrory said all decisions involving financial incentives would still be made at the government level.

The governor was in Wilmington Wednesday to visit with local media outlets and to meet with doctors about Medicaid issues and port officials. He also held a meeting with local emergency management officials about readiness for Tropical Storm Arthur, which is forecast to start threatening the state's coastal areas late Thursday.

Some film supporters took the governor's visit to the Port City to protest his position on the incentive program.

As McCrory's car pulled into WECT for an interview before lunch, a crowd of roughly 40 protesters began to chant "Film = Jobs."

<p>Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday defended his administration's push for long-term, sustainable solutions to the state's health, economic and transportation challenges.</p><p>But that policy could represent troubling news for the state's film incentive program, which is stuck in a political quagmire in Raleigh even though the tax credit is set to expire at the end of the year.</p><p>If that happens, film supporters have warned of a mass exodus of productions – and jobs – from the state, with Wilmington hit especially hard as North Carolina's production epicenter.</p><p>McCrory, who visited the StarNews Wednesday during several stops in the Port City, painted himself as a middle man in the film incentive debate trying to find a solution that meets the needs of fiscal conservatives with those who fear any watering down of the program would decimate the state's film industry.</p><p>"I'm looking for common ground," the governor said, noting that the debate so far has been between options that offer an "all or nothing" solution.</p><p>McCrory said his vision would be some kind of program that promotes long-term capital investment by the film industry with long-term job potential. He floated such a plan in his proposed 2014-15 budget, although the state House and Senate have decided to push their own proposals.</p><p>But film supporters have said the governor's plan doesn't work for their industry, and a program like that would just send production work to other states and offer more lucrative – and less stringent – incentive programs.</p><p>McCrory also said he didn't see a one-year extension of the current program – an option promoted by state Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, and Wilmington Mayor <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic72"><b>Bill Saffo</b></a> – as a viable solution because there's currently no money earmarked for it.</p><p>"That's a problem because I'd have to take it from somewhere else," he said. "There's a cause-and-effect on any decision we make."</p><p>Still, the governor said he was "optimistic" any budget he signs would include film incentives. But, McCrory cautioned, he didn't think it would look like the current tax credit program.</p><p>Continuing his focus on long-term solutions, McCrory on Wednesday also touted the changes initiated by his administration on transportation funding and tax and Medicaid reform.</p><p>He reiterated his support for the recent changes at the N.C. Ports, even if he had to "step on some toes" to get them done. That includes selecting Paul Cozza as the new executive director and Michael Lee as chair of the N.C. State Ports Authority Board of Directors.</p><p>McCrory said the moves have allowed the ports authority, which operates the deepwater ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, to focus its efforts on developing niche markets, like wood pellets.</p><p>"We've got to own up that we're not going to compete with the Savannahs, Charlestons and Norfolks of the world," he said, referring to neighboring – and much larger – Southeastern ports.</p><p>On the state's economic recruitment efforts, the governor said impending changes at the N.C. Department of Commerce to move toward a public-private partnership would help simplify recruitment efforts.</p><p>But alluding to concerns about a lack of transparency, McCrory said all decisions involving financial incentives would still be made at the government level.</p><p>The governor was in Wilmington Wednesday to visit with local media outlets and to meet with doctors about Medicaid issues and port officials. He also held a meeting with local emergency management officials about readiness for Tropical Storm Arthur, which is forecast to start threatening the state's coastal areas late Thursday.</p><p>Some film supporters took the governor's visit to the Port City to protest his position on the incentive program.</p><p>As McCrory's car pulled into WECT for an interview before lunch, a crowd of roughly 40 protesters began to chant "Film = Jobs."</p><p>The governor responded by waving from his car.</p><p><i>Staff writer Hunter Ingram contributed to this story.</i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9924"><b>Gareth McGrath</b></a>: 343-2384</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @Gman2000</p>